By Levy Masiteng
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has sounded the alarm as diphtheria cases are on the rise in South Africa.
NICD spokesperson Vuyo Sabani said that since the beginning of 2025, 40 cases of diphtheria have been confirmed in South Africa, with 19 symptomatic cases and 21 asymptomatic carriers identified through contact tracing.
They include 15 respiratory diphtheria cases reported in the Western Cape, two in Gauteng, three in Mpumalanga and one probable case in Limpopo.
“More than 78% of the cases have been in adults. Of the symptomatic cases, it is important to note that nine individuals have died, with a case fatality ratio of 27% (9/33) since the beginning of 2024,” Sabani said in a statement.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious and potentially life-threatening illness that can cause severe respiratory problems, heart damage and even death. Symptoms typically include a sore throat, fever and swollen glands in the neck.
Sabani said that infant vaccines were administered at 6, 10 and 14 weeks, with booster doses given at 18 months, six years and 12 years.
According to Dr Jocelyn Moyes, a medical epidemiologist at the NICD, individuals who experienced symptoms of diphtheria should seek immediate medical attention.
“So, if anybody experiences these symptoms it’s really important to seek care early. The reason for that is it is treatable and often if people present late the effective treatment, the antitoxin medication that we have and the antibiotics don’t work as well. So please if you are not well, you have this kind of symptoms of a sore throat and large glands in your neck please see someone as soon as possible,” said Moyes.
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